Mutants & Masterminds 1e to 2e Conversion Guide

Green Ronin

Mutants & Masterminds First Edition/Second Edition Conversion Guide

Page 1

MUTANTS & MASTERMINDS 1e to 2e CONVERSION NOTES

This file offers guidelines for converting between the first and second editions of the

Mutants & Masterminds

Superhero

Roleplaying Game, published by Green Ronin Publishing. It is available from

www.mutantsandmasterminds.com

and may

be freely distributed, so long as it is not altered in any way.

While no conversion system is one hundred percent accurate, these guidelines should allow you to use first edition

characters in second edition games fairly easily.

Except where specified otherwise, all page references are to the second edition of

Mutants & Masterminds.

POWER LEVEL

Power level in

M&M 2e

is a function of the campaign rather than the character, but player characters can remain the

same power level, just make their current PL that of the campaign (since, presumably all the PCs in an

M&M

campaign

are the same PL). Starting power points remain the same: power level x 15.

ABILITIES

To determine a character’s ability scores in

M&M 2e,

double the Super-Ability rank (if any) and add it to the character’s

base ability score. So a character with Dexterity 18 and Super-Dexterity 6 has (6 x 2 + 18) or Dexterity 30. Keep in mind
that ability bonuses are limited to PL+5, except for Strength and Constitution, which are also limited by power level
guidelines on damage and Toughness save modifier.

If an

M&M 1e

character has no Super-Abilities, just use the same ability score in

2e.

ATTACK & DEFENSE BONUS

Abilities do not directly add to attack or defense bonus in

M&M 2e.

Instead, take the character’s

total

first edition attack

and defense bonuses (including ability bonuses) and buy them for the second edition version, keeping in mind the power
level limits, which may require the character to have a lower bonus in one or both categories. Attack and defense bonus in

M&M 2e

both cost 2 power points per +1 bonus.

SKILLS

M&M 2e

has a shorter skill list than

1e.

Some redundant skills have been consolidated and eliminated. Replace those

skills as follows. If the character has multiple instances of the same replacement skill (like Acrobatics and Balance) use the
highest skill rank or bonus.

Note that in

M&M 2e

, skills also cost less therefore skill-intensive characters have less need for high ability scores in

order to have higher skill bonuses. You may wish to lower the abilities of such characters in

2e,

adding additional skill

ranks to compensate.

Balance: This skill is a function of Acrobatics in

M&M 2e.

Craft:

M&M 2e

has a specific list of Craft specialties; choose the one(s) most appropriate for the character.

Demolitions: This skill is a function of Craft (chemical) and Craft (mechanical) in

M&M 2e.

Forgery: This skill is a function of Craft in

M&M 2e.

Hide: This skill is a function of Stealth in

M&M 2e.

Innuendo: This skill is a function of Bluff (sending messages) or Sense Motive (perceiving messages) in

M&M 2e.

Jump: This skill is a function of Acrobatics in

M&M 2e.

Knowledge:

M&M 2e

has a specific list of Knowledge specialties; choose the one(s) most appropriate for the

character.

Listen: This skill is a function of Notice in

M&M 2e.

Move Silently: This skill is a function of Stealth in

M&M 2e.

Open Lock: This skill is a function of Disable Device in

M&M 2e.

Read Lips: This skill is a function of Language in

M&M 2e.

Characters should acquire lip-reading as fluency in a

language (the same with things like sign language).

Repair: This skill is a function of Craft in

M&M 2e.

Science: This skill is subsumed into Knowledge in

M&M 2e;

assign the character the appropriate Knowledge

specialties like life sciences or physical sciences.

Spot: This skill is a function of Notice in

M&M 2e.

Taunt: This skill is a function of Bluff in

M&M 2e

for characters with the Taunt feat. Assign the character ranks in

Bluff (if necessary) and the Taunt feat.

Green Ronin

Mutants & Masterminds First Edition/Second Edition Conversion Guide

Page 2

FEATS

Mutants & Masterminds Second Edition

adds a number of new feats, revises some others, and removes a few feats found

in the first edition of the game. Generally speaking, any

feats still found in

convert directly. For other feats, use the

following guidelines:

Aerial Combat: This feat is an example of the Favored Environment feat (an aerial environment, specifically).
Attack Finesse: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e,

since ability scores do not affect combat bonuses.

Dodge: Convert this feat to the Dodge Focus feat in

M&M 2e.

Evasion: Convert this feat to the Defensive Roll feat in

M&M 2e,

applying sufficient ranks to raise the character’s

Toughness save bonus to previous levels (but within power level guidelines).

Expertise: This feat is called Defensive Attack in

M&M 2e,

but otherwise works the same.

Far Shot: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e.

Fame: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e.

Great Fortitude: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e,

replace it with a direct increase to the character’s Fortitude

saving throw bonus.

Headquarters: This feat is part of the Equipment feat in

M&M 2e.

Heroic Surge: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e;

it is now a normal function of hero points.

Hero’s Luck: This feat is called Luck in

M&M 2e.

Indomitable Will: This feat is an example of the Second Chance feat in

M&M 2e.

Infamy: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e.

Instant Stand: This feat is called Instant Up in

M&M 2e.

Iron Will: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e;

replace it with a direct increase to the character’s Will saving throw

bonus.

Lighting Reflexes: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e;

replace it with a direct increase to the character’s Reflex saving

throw bonus.

Move-By Attack: This feat is called Move-by Action in

M&M 2e.

Multishot: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e.

Use the Autofire extra for effects requiring it.

Photographic Memory: This feat is called Eidetic Memory in

M&M 2e.

Point Blank Shot: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e.

Rapid Shot: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e.

Use the Autofire extra for effects requiring it.

Rapid Takedown: This feat is a second rank of Takedown Attack in

M&M 2e.

Rapid Healing: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e;

replace it with one or more ranks of Regeneration.

Rapid Strike: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e.

Use the Autofire extra for effects requiring it.

Sidekick: This feat generally requires a greater expenditure of power points than in

M&M 1e.

Skill Focus: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e.

Replace it with additional ranks in the appropriate skill.

Surprise Strike: This feat is called Sneak Attack in

M&M 2e.

Talented: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e.

Replace it with additional ranks in the appropriate skills.

Toughness: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e.

Replace it with ranks in Protection.

Two-Weapon Fighting: This feat, along with Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, does not exist in

M&M 2e.

Underwater Combat: This feat is an example of the Favored Environment feat (an aquatic environment, specifically).
Whirlwind Attack: This feat does not exist in

M&M 2e.

Replace it with a touch range area attack power, if desired.

SUPER-FEATS

Mutants & Masterminds Second Edition

does not have super-feats like the first edition. All super-feats except for the

following should be replaced with the appropriate Super-Senses:

Amphibious: This is Immunity 1 (drowning), plus the Environmental Adaptation (aquatic) feat, if desired.
Durability: This is Immunity 40 (lethal damage, Limited to shifting it to non-lethal). Note the considerable increase in

cost.

Extra Limb: This is one or more ranks in the Additional Limbs power.
Penetrating Attack: This is the Penetrating extra applied to a power.
Power Immunity: This is Immunity 1 (your own powers).
Power Stunt: This is the Alternate Power feat in

M&M 2e.

True-Sight: This is Immunity 5 (illusions).

Green Ronin

Mutants & Masterminds First Edition/Second Edition Conversion Guide

Page 3

POWERS

Mutants & Masterminds Second Edition

makes a number of adjustments to powers as well as introducing a number of

new powers.

Generally speaking, convert ranks in a first edition power to the same number of ranks in the second edition power of

the same name. A few powers work differently, with specific cases mentioned below.

Power Changes
Some powers have changed from

M&M 1e

M&M 2e.

The major changes for converting characters are outlined below.

Extras: Powers as extras of other powers does not exist in

Mutants & Masterminds Second Edition.

Such powers

should be acquired separately, or possibly as Alternate Power feats of a base power.

Power Stunts:

M&M 1e

power stunts are the equivalent of

M&M 2e

Alternate Power feats, and should be converted

accordingly. In

M&M 2e,

“power stunt” refers specifically to a power feat acquired using extra effort and/or the spending

of hero points.

Movement Powers: Generally, movement rates are somewhat faster in

M&M 2e,

which doesn’t use tactical movement

on a grid. You can usually halve the rank of a

movement power to get a suitable

power rank.

Equivalent Powers
The equivalent

M&M 2e

power for each

M&M 1e

power is shown below. In many cases the equivalent power is exactly

the same; in others, it requires some adjustment.

First Edition Power

Second Edition Power

Absorption

Absorption (Physical/Energy)

Alternate Form

(Alternate) Form

Amazing Save

Purchase additional saving throw bonus directly

Animation

Animate Objects

Armor

Device (with Protection)

Astral Projection

Astral Form

Blending

Concealment (visual, Blending)

Boost

Boost (Trait)

Clinging

Super-Movement (wall-crawling)

Combat Sense

Super-Senses (danger sense)

Comprehend

Corrosion

Cosmic Power

Cosmic Energy Control

Create Object

Datalink

Dazzle

Deflection

Deflect

Density Control

Density

Dimensional Travel

Super-Movement (dimensional)

Disintegration

Drain

Drain (Trait)

Duplication

Elasticity

Elongation

Energy Blast

Blast

Element Control

(Element) Control

Energy Field

Strike with the Aura extra

ESP

Fatigue

Flight

Force Field

Gadgets

Device and/or the Inventor feat and appropriate Craft and Knowledge skills.

Growth

Healing

Illusion

Immovability

Immovable

Incorporeal

Insubstantial 4

Invisibility

Leaping

Green Ronin

Mutants & Masterminds First Edition/Second Edition Conversion Guide

Page 4

Luck

Luck Control

Mental Blast

Mental Protection

Mind Shield

Microscopic Vision

Super-Senses (microscopic vision)

Mimic

Mimic (Trait)

Mind Control

Natural Weapon

Strike (Mighty)

Neutralize

Nullify

Obscure

Paralysis

Paralyze

Plant Control

Possession

Postcognition

Super-Senses (postcognition)

Precognition

Super-Senses (precognition)

Protection

Regeneration

Reincarnate

Regeneration (Resurrection, Reincarnation)

Running

Speed

Sensory Protection

Sensory Shield

Shape Matter

Transform

Shapeshift

Morph (for appearance only), Shapeshift (to duplicate traits)

Shrinking

Slick

Trip (Ranged)

Slow

Paralyze

Snare

Sorcery

Magic

Space Flight

Space Travel

Spinning

Strike

Strike (possibly Mighty)

Stun

Suffocate

Super-Ability

Enhanced Ability (or simply a higher ability score, see Abilities)

Super-Senses

Super-Senses or an increased Notice skill

Super-Skill

Purchase increased skill ranks

Super-Speed

Super-Strength

Super-Strength (plus possibly Enhanced Strength)

Swimming

Swinging

Super-Movement (swinging)

Telekinesis

Telepathy

Teleportation

Teleport

Telescopic Senses

Super-Senses (extended)

Time Control

Transfer

Transformation

Transform

Tunneling

Burrowing

Weapon

Device (with Strike)

Weather Control

DRAWBACKS & COMPLICATIONS

Weaknesses from

Mutants & Masterminds First Edition

become drawbacks and complications in

Second Edition.

Drawbacks grant a variable number of additional power points for character creation, while complications award
additional hero points when they come up during play. See pages 122–127 of

M&M 2e

for details.

Convert the character’s Weaknesses (if any) to the nearest equivalent drawbacks or complications, using the following

guidelines.

Green Ronin

Mutants & Masterminds First Edition/Second Edition Conversion Guide

Page 5

First Edition Weakness

Second Edition Drawback/Complication

Berserker

Complication

Disabled

Disability

Disturbing

Complication

Naive

Complication

Quirk

Complication

Susceptible

Weakness

Transformation

Involuntary Transformation

Unlucky

Complication

Vulnerable

DEVICES

Use the Device power in

M&M 2e

to create all devices and see the guidelines in Chapter 7 for handling devices and

equipment of all kinds. Pre-existing game information for most common equipment can be found in this chapter.

DETERMINING NPC POWER LEVEL

Since power level and power point total are independent of each other in

Mutants & Masterminds Second Edition,

the

power level of non-player characters (heroes or villains) is not determined by their power point total. Instead, use the
power level limits given on page 24 of

M&M 2e

and determine the character’s power level in reverse, based on the

highest applicable bonus or trait.

For combat traits, it’s easiest to average together attack bonus and damage, and defense bonus and Toughness to

determine the character’s overall combat power level, then check skill ranks, power ranks (for saving throw DC modifiers),
save bonuses, and ability score modifiers for any that may be above this power level.

Generally speaking,

M&M 2e

NPCs are lower power level, although they may have the same or more power points

than their first edition versions.

CONVERTING CAMPAIGNS

It’s up to individual Gamemasters as to when and how to convert their

Mutants & Masterminds

campaigns over to the

Second Edition

of the game. The simplest way of doing this is to allow players to re-design their heroes using the same

number of power points, setting the campaign power level the same as the overall power level of the heroes in

M&M 1e.

Some characters may come out costing slightly more or less in

M&M 2e.

You can require players to reduce cost or

spend the additional points to come out to the same point total as before, or ignore the discrepancies and have characters
with slightly different point totals that are as true as possible to the originals. You might want to make the point total of
all the characters that of the most expensive character, letting the other players spend some bonus power points to raise
their characters up to that total, just to keep everything even.

When converting NPCs and villains, you don’t need to concern yourself with power point totals, since they can have

as many points as you wish. Just use the guidelines on converting traits, and figure out the resulting power level from the
character’s final scores.

Since no conversion system is one hundred percent accurate, you may need to “eyeball” some conversions to get a

result that looks and feels right, even if it’s not a 100% faithful conversion from one edition to the other.

USING FIRST EDITION CHARACTERS

For the most part,

M&M 1e

character stats are still usable with the

Second Edition.

Ability bonuses, skill bonuses, power

ranks, and combat bonuses work essentially the same. Just keep the campaign’s power level in mind. Some

M&M 1e

characters have unusually high combat bonuses by

M&M 2e

standards due to ability modifiers. Lower these to match the

campaign’s limits, and you should be able to use the character with a minimum of effort.

Other game stats from

M&M 1e

products, particularly things like check Difficulty Classes and such, remain the same

between editions. So it’s an easy matter to run a first edition adventure with the second edition: simply convert the major
NPCs, and you’re ready to go!

FURTHER QUESTIONS

Do you have questions about

Mutants & Masterminds Second Edition?

If so, feel free to drop by

www.mutantsandmasterminds.com

and visit

www.atomicthinktank.com

for our

M&M

forums, where you can get the latest

news, information, and feedback from your fellow

M&M

players.